Mother, daughter given probation for taking more than $400,000 in elder theft case

OROVILLE &GT;&GT; A mother and daughter were placed on 10 years probation Thursday for stealing more than $400,000 in coins and items from an older Gridley woman.

Defendants Suzan May Pounds and daughter Lisa Marie Pounds had faced state prison, but Butte County Superior Court Judge Kristen Lucena said she considered the importance of the Pounds paying restitution at the earliest opportunity and the defendants' lack of prior convictions.

Probation terms included making full restitution, currently calculated at about $357,000, and an order to stay away from the victim. Suzan Pounds was ordered to serve an additional 210 days in jail, while Lisa Pounds was released after serving 155 days.

On Nov. 14, a jury convicted the defendants, both of Marysville, on charges of first-degree residential burglary, theft from an elder, grand theft and two counts of second-degree commercial burglary. All counts are felonies.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a money laundering charge against Lisa Pounds, and the felony count was later dismissed.

Both defendants had been taken into custody following a Feb. 7 hearing where the judge ordered a state prison diagnostic to assist with sentencing.

After Thursday's hearing, victim Evelyn Ingraham, of Gridley, said the cases should have been handled differently as the Probation Department and prison diagnostic had recommended prison. She also didn't know how the Pounds would be able to make restitution.

"I'm totally disappointed in the system of this court," Ingraham said.

Deputy district attorney Kimberly McNelis had argued for prison because the defendants were a danger to the elderly and public. She also said Suzan Pounds had accepted no responsibility for her actions in interviews with probation and state prison officials.

In March 2012, Ingraham had been caring for her husband, Orlan, when she had to go to the hospital for what turned into an extended stay, according to McNelis on Feb. 7. Ingraham had been friends with Suzan Pounds. Ingraham asked Suzan Pounds to care for her husband, but he died three days after the start of her hospital stay.

In the following days, neighbors reportedly saw the Pounds remove items from the house and garage. Items stolen included 180 1-ounce philharmonic gold coins from a gun safe. The coins had been worth $324,000 in 2012.

When Ingraham was able to return home, she found several items missing and her neighbors told her what happened.

Ingraham said Thursday Suzan Pounds had told her neighbors and her sister that she was going to die. She said she and Orlan had invested in gold for their future, but the Poundses had destroyed that and she now relies on Social Security. Ingraham also missed sentimental keepsakes that were taken, including her father's sheriff's badge.

After returning home, Ingraham said the list of missing items is incomplete.

"Everyday, I see something that's not there," she said.

During the investigation, searches of the Pounds' residences reportedly revealed several of the stolen items. Lisa Pounds also reportedly tried to withdraw her entire bank account of $155,000, but the account had been frozen.

The defendants had testified the money was partly a loan from Lisa Pounds' parents and partly savings, according to McNelis.

Defense attorney Michael Rooney, who represents both clients, has previously said Orlan Ingraham had instructed the Pounds to keep certain items away from other family members. The judge had said there was no evidence of that, aside from Suzan Pounds' own testimony.

Suzan Pounds had previously told the court that they were never at the Ingrahams' house without Ingraham's sister being present.

During Suzan Pounds' sentencing, Rooney said his client may disagree with the trial court's findings, but she would follow orders from the court and probation.

Afterward, Rooney said probation was more appropriate than prison, given that neither client had a prior record and it was the only realistic way restitution could be paid.

The defense attorney said the verdict was heartbreaking all the way around, but suggested the defendants were innocent. He also noted the gold coins were never recovered.